Materials from Africa
Deep in the middle of Africa, at the river’s edge where the hippos live, life is pleasant. The big hippos like to relax at the beach, while the little hippos love diving. Mrs. Hippopotamus enjoys having quiet time all to herself, especially when bathing. She even has her beach, where she takes a bath in peace. But then a monkey shows up and disturbs her solitude. What is Mrs. Hippopotamus to do? She comes up with a fantastic solution, one, as it turns out, that all the hippos like.
The second book in the new Made In series of riddle books, Riddle of the Nile features Baby Crocodile. His dream is to become king of the Nile, but first he must solve a baffling riddle. His search for the answer takes young readers through ancient myths and modern mosques to the Great Sphinx, the New Library of Alexandria, and other amazing sights. Based on the author’s visits to Egypt, this crocodile’s-eye view of this ancient land is illustrated with collages inspired by Egyptian art. Adding to the fun are brief notes, a map of the Nile, and a Pyramid Fortune Game to make and play.
When Martine’s home in England burns down, killing her parents, she must go to South Africa to live on a wildlife game preserve, called Sawubona, with the grandmother she didn’t know she had. Almost as soon as she arrives, Martine hears stories about a white giraffe living in the preserve. But her grandmother and others working at Sawubona insist that the giraffe is just a myth. Martine is not so sure, until one stormy night when she looks out her window and locks eyes with Jemmy, a young silvery-white giraffe. Why is everyone keeping Jemmy’s existence a secret? Does it have anything to do with the rash of poaching going on at Sawubona? Martine needs all of the courage and smarts she has, not to mention a little African magic, to find out. First-time children’s author Lauren St. John brings us deep into the African world, where myths become reality and a young girl with a healing gift has the power to save her home and her one true friend.
Eight-year-old Jeanne was the only one of her family to survive the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Then a German family adopted her, and her adoptive mother now tells Jeanne’s story in a compelling fictionalized biography that stays true to the traumatized child’s bewildered viewpoint.
Featured in Volume I, Issue 4 of WOW Review.
A member of the Maasai tribe of Kenya, Africa describes his life as he grew up in a northern village, traveled to America to attend college, and became an elementary school teacher in Virginia.
In Malawi and Zambia, children who have lost family to the AIDS pandemic tell their stories. This book is about the power of the human spirit to endure and hope for a better tomorrow.
The Lion’s Share is one of the most widely known animal fables throughout Somalia. It is told for entertainment but also for its wisdom about the misuse of power. At different times in history the folktale was retold in poems, songs, and other prose.
This is the true story of two great friends: a baby hippo named Owen, and a 130-year-old tortoise named Mzee live in Kenya. In December 2004, something astonishing happen: A frightened young hippo, separated from his family by the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia, adopted an acient Aldabra tortoise as his mother. The old tortoise, for years a loner, accepted the baby hippo as his own. In spite of their many differences, Owen and Mzee are inseparable. What’s even more amazing is that the pair seem to have developed their own” language” of soft sounds and gestures, which continues to baffle wildlife experts.
The chance meeting of Khepri, the small scarab beetle, and the powerful Pharaoh turns out to be a life altering experience for both and, ultimately, shapes the fate of the young leader. After the scarab uncovers a mysterious plot to murder the Pharaoh he is determined to put an end to it. The tiny scarab with a big heart helps the Pharaoh avert danger and saves the life of his precious ruler.
This book made in-depth look at the peoples and laces of this diverse and fascinating region-from the cradle of civilization to the powerful countries that playa central role in today’s global economy and politics.